U.S. moms spent 9% less on disposable diapers then they did a year earlier despite the fact that birth rates have slipped only slightly. (Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images/Blend Images)

America's constipated economy is manifesting itself in an odd place – babies' backsides.

In what could be called "The Pampers Indicator," U.S. moms spent 9% less on disposable diapers then they did a year earlier despite the fact that birth rates have slipped only slightly. And yet, diaper rash cream sales are up, according to AdAge.

Proof that moms are changing their babies' diapers less frequently to stretch their budgets, could be in the angry red rash, a likely result of babies sitting too long in soiled diapers.

Proctor & Gamble, the maker of Pampers, told AdAge that it hasn't noticed a trend of parents changing diapers less frequently to save money.

However, they admitted to observing another trend: Parents potty training their children earlier in order to cut diapers out of their budget.

An American family is likely to spend about $1,500 annually on disposable diapers.

The U.S. is fairly fastidious when it comes to changing its babies diapers – the average babies goes through about 6.3 a day.